In an international environment marked by geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption, and competitive pressures, major listed Spanish companies continue to demonstrate a solid ability to generate wealth and employment.
According to the report Employment Barometer prepared by EY-Parthenon, companies integrated in the Ibex 35 increased their global workforce by 0.9% during 2025, incorporating around 11,600 professionals.
The most outstanding figure from EY's analysis lies in the performance of the domestic market. While large corporations from other countries in our region drastically reduced their local workforces —with declines of 1.4% in France and 1.0% in Germany—, Spanish companies increased their local workforces by 1.8%. This positions Spain as the only major market in continental Europe generating net employment within its own territory. Furthermore, 65% of the companies in the Spanish index increased their global employment throughout the year, surpassing the percentages of their French (55%) and German (54%) counterparts.
Driving sectors and international dimension
The EY study indicates that the positive evolution of the Spanish index largely responds to the sectoral structure of its listed companies, with a strong emphasis on activities related to infrastructure, energy, financial services, tourism, technology, and engineering. By activity sectors, the largest overall employment growth was seen in Aerospace and Defence (+4.3%), Capital Goods (+2.9%), and Information Technology (+2.1%).
Additionally, the large listed companies in the Ibex 35 maintain a marked international vocation —74% of their total workforce works outside our borders—, which has not prevented them from simultaneously reinforcing local investment and employment.
Looking to the future, the analysis warns that the corporate sector is already preparing to face the massive adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) between 2027 and 2028. Far from being limited to destroying jobs, EY experts point out that the real challenge will lie in a profound reassignment of capabilities and a firm commitment to reskilling talent to transform technology into a sustainable driver of growth and competitiveness.
